Mentored Field Experience

Learn beyond the classroom. Research in the field.

The Mentored Field Experience (MFE) is one of the distinctive opportunities offered through Stetson's Latin American and Latinx Studies Program, and truly sets it apart from other programs in the area. Through this faculty-guided experience, students develop research projects, travel to locations connected to their interests, and engage directly with the histories, cultures, communities, and issues they have studied in the classroom.

More Than a Study Abroad Experience

The Mentored Field Experience is an opportunity to pursue undergraduate research beyond the classroom. Working closely with a faculty mentor and a small group of fellow students, participants develop questions, explore new perspectives, and investigate topics connected to Latin America, the Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx communities.

The MFE is offered biennially (every two years). Each experience is organized around a faculty-guided research project. Students prepare on campus, conduct research in the field, and return to reflect on and share what they have learned. The destination and research focus vary with each MFE, creating a new opportunity for students to explore a particular place, question, or area of interest.

From Preparation to Fieldwork

Every MFE begins well before students travel. Participants work with their faculty mentor to develop the background, questions, and research skills they will need to make the most of their experience.

Prepare

Students explore the historical, cultural, political, and social contexts relevant to their research. Working with their faculty mentor, they develop individual or collaborative projects and prepare for the work ahead.

Conduct Research

In the field, students engage directly with the places and communities they are studying. Depending on the project, research may include interviews, observation, archival work, and community-based research.

Reflect and Share

The experience continues after students return to campus. Participants analyze their findings, reflect on what they have learned, and share their work and insights with others.

A Small-Group Experience with Faculty Mentorship

The MFE brings students together in a small-group setting to work closely with a faculty mentor. This structure allows participants to pursue meaningful research while learning from one another and engaging more deeply with the places they visit.

Each experience is different. Faculty mentors develop projects around particular research interests, disciplinary perspectives, and opportunities for fieldwork. Students may contribute to a collaborative project while also pursuing questions of their own.

An Opportunity Rooted in Latin American and Latinx Studies

The Mentored Field Experience reflects the interdisciplinary spirit of Latin American and Latinx Studies. Students draw on perspectives from fields such as history, anthropology, sociology, political science, education, religious studies, and Spanish to investigate questions that cross disciplinary boundaries.

Whether exploring questions of culture, identity, migration, politics, education, religion, or community life, students have the opportunity to connect their academic interests with the people and places they study.

Interested in Participating?

Because the MFE is offered every two years, opportunities to participate are limited. Each experience has its own faculty mentor, research focus, destination, and application process. Students interested in participating should watch for announcements from the Latin American and Latinx Studies Program and the WORLD office.

You can also speak with a LALS faculty member to learn more about upcoming opportunities and how to get involved.

Your next research experience might take you somewhere unexpected.